The Divine Felines of Ancient Egypt
The Crow and the Pitcher
Researcher Explains How Crows Solved a Challenge from "Aesop's Fables"
Vocabulary #1
Vocabulary #2
100

Why did Ancient Egyptians rely on cats?

to help them protect their crops from vermin

100

What was the main problem in the selection?

Crow was thirsty!
100

What are New Caledonian crows known for?

making and using tools

100

archeologist

a scientist who studies ancient societies by examining what remains of their buildings, graves, or tools

100

anticipation

the feeling of looking forward to something

200

Why did the author write this selection?

to inform readers about how significant cats were in ancient Egypt.

200

Why did the Crow decide to hide under the orchard?

Orchards are filled with trees and the shade could cool Crow off.

200

What are some ways in which New Caledonian Crows use and develop tools to improve their lives?

- make hooks out of sticks to poke out grubs.

- cut leaves as if they were scissors with their beaks to make tools

- poke objects to see if they are dangerous

200

grub

a small, thick, wormlike larva of an insect

200

domesticated

 to train an animal to keep it as a pet or on a farm

300

How did Ancient Egyptians treat their cats?

Ancient Egyptians treated their cats with a lot of respect and better than pets because they saw them almost as gods.


300

What was wrong with the pitcher?

The pitcher had a little bit of water but Crow could not reach it!

300

Why does Jelbert analyze errors the New Caledonian crows when trying to solve problems?

to understand how crows conceptualize and solve problems

300

weary

physically and mentally tired because of hard work

300

counterintuitive

 different from what would seem natural or expected

400

What did the Battle of Pelusium demonstrate about ancient Egyptians?

Ancient Egyptians valued cultural beliefs over military victory.

400

How was Crow able to to reach the water?

He dropped stones in the pitcher to rise the water levels and be able to reach it.

400

Why do New Caledonian crows use a hook to lift grubs out instead of poking them directly with a normal stick?

They use hook because a normal stick would make the grubs mush.

This shows that New Caledonian crows are smart enough to learn and develop new methods to improve their lives.

400

deity

a god or goddess

400

dismay

a strong feeling of being worried, disappointed, or upset

500

How did Persians use cats to defeat an Egyptian army at the Battle of Pelusium?

Stories say that 

- Persian soldiers painted pictures of cats on their shields.

- Persians held live cats in their arms

- Persians released cats onto the battlefield

500
What does "Necessity is the mother of invention." mean?

Challenges can lead people to find clever solutions.

500

How do the New Caledonian crows use their beaks like scissors?

They snip into the side of a leaf and then rip it up about 10 to 15 centimeters, and snip it off at the top.

500

hollow

being empty inside

500

vermin

small animals, such as roaches, and rats, that can cause harm and are difficult to get rid of that